Meetings

The Committee noted the correspondence and raised the issue with the First Minister during item two of today’s agenda.

Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales

Andrew Goodall, Chief Executive NHS Wales & Director General of Health & Social Services

The Chair asked Dr Andrew Goodall to pass on the Committee’s gratitude to all staff working for the NHS throughout the current pandemic.

The Committee scrutinised the First Minister on the current actions being taken in relation to Covid-19.

Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions

Duncan Hamer, Chief Operating Officer Business and Regions

Emma Watkins, Deputy Director Economic Policy

3.1 Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions, Duncan Hamer, Chief Operating Officer Business and Regions and Emma Watkins, Deputy Director Economic Policy answered questions from Committee Members

3.2 Ken Skates MS agreed to provide a table they are compiling looking at comparisons between the business support Wales offers and the offers elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

3.1.1 The paper was noted.

5.5.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Llywydd in relation to COVID-19 regulations.

CLA(5)-31-20 – Paper 103 – Letter to the Llywydd, 22 October 2020

The Committee noted the letter to the Llywydd.

Supporting document: Welsh Government - Coronavirus reconstruction: challenges and priorities

The Committee scrutinised the Counsel General on the Welsh Government’s plans for recovery and reconstruction from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales

Des Clifford, Director General - Office of the First Minister

Jeremy Miles MS, Counsel General and Minister for European Transition

Liz Lalley, Deputy Director – Recovery, Welsh Government

CLA(5)-30-20 – Paper 49 – Letter from the Llywydd, 8 October 2020

CLA(5)-30-20 – Paper 50 – Background briefing

The Committee considered the key issues in relation to the scrutiny of Covid-19 regulations and how they wished to respond to the letter from the Llywydd of 8 October 2020.

CLA(5)-29-20 – Paper 50 – Letter from the Llywydd, 8 October 2020

The Committee considered the letter from the Llywydd in relation to the scrutiny of Covid-19 regulations and agreed to consider its response at the next meeting.

Peter Hughes, Regional Secretary, UNITE Wales

Mike Payne, Senior Organiser Wales and South West, GMB Union

Shavanah Taj, General Secretary, Wales Trades Union Congress

3.1 Peter Hughes, Regional Secretary, UNITE Wales, Mike Payne, Senior Organiser Wales and South West, GMB Union and Shavanah Taj, General Secretary, Wales Trades Union Congress answered questions from Committee Members.

CLA(5)-24-20 – Paper 51 – Welsh Government report

CLA(5)-24-20 – Paper 52 – Written statement, 19 August 2020

The Committee noted the report and agreed to write to the Welsh Government to welcome the report.

Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions, Welsh Government

Emma Watkins, Deputy Director Economic Policy, Welsh Government

Simon Jones, Director, Economic Infrastructure, Welsh Government

Andrew Clark - Deputy Director, Employability and Skills, Welsh Government

2.1 Ken Skates MS, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales. Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Sioned Evans, Director, Business and Regions, Emma Watkins, Deputy Director Economic Policy, Simon Jones, Director, Economic Infrastructure and Andrew Clark, Deputy Director, Employability and Skills answered questions from Committee Members

2.2 The Minister has agreed to provide the Committee with further details as discussed at the meeting

10.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Rt. Hon Simon Hart MP, Secretary of State for Wales

Geth Williams, Deputy Director of Constitution, Wales Office

Supporting papers:

Paper 13 – Letter from the Secretary of State for Wales - COVID-19: Support for Wales – 9 April 2020

Research Brief

9.1 The Committee took evidence from the Rt Hon. Simon Hart MP, Secretary of State for Wales and Geth Williams, Deputy Director of Constitution, Wales Office on the financial response to COVID-19.

9.2 The Committee requested details of HM Treasury’s calculations in relation to the £500 million COVID-19 funding for Wales, announced by the Chancellor in the Summer Economic Update.

Supporting papers:

Paper 10 – Letter from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales – 3 July 2020

Paper 11 – Letter from the Senedd Commission – 7 July 2020

Paper 12 – Letter from Audit Wales – 7 July 2020

8.1 The Committee noted the correspondence from the directly funded bodies.

The Committee discussed the evidence from the previous sessions and agreed to write to the First Minister to seek further information about a number of outstanding issues.

Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford, MS - First Minister of Wales

Jeremy Miles MS - Counsel General and Minister for European Transition

Andrew Goodall - Chief Executive NHS Wales & Director General of Health & Social Services, Welsh Government

Tracey Burke – Director General, Education and Public Services, Welsh Government

Simon Brindle – Director, Brexit Strategy, Welsh Government

Andrew Slade – Director General, Economy, Skills & Natural Resources, Welsh Government

The Committee scrutinised the First Minister on the Welsh Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and future recovery plans. 

6.1 The Committee noted the letter.

Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

Gian Marco Currado, Director, Environment & Marine

Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer

John Howells, Director Climate Change, Energy and Planning

Dean Medcraft, Director- Finance & Operations

Keith Smyton, Head of Food Division

3.1 Members continued to question the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs and her officials about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the agriculture sector, food and animal welfare, and her department’s response to date to the pandemic.

6.1 Members considered the evidence heard during the scrutiny sessions. They agreed to write to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to request further information on some of the issues raised.

Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

Gian Marco Currado, Director, Environment & Marine

Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer

John Howells, Director Climate Change, Energy and Planning

Dean Medcraft, Director- Finance & Operations

Keith Smyton, Head of Food Division

2.1 Members questioned the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs and her officials about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the agriculture sector, food and animal welfare, and her department’s response to date to the pandemic.

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Margaret Davies, Deputy Director of Strategic Budgeting

Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury

Supporting papers:

Paper 1 - Response from the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd - Financial response to COVID-19 pandemic - 24 April 2020

Paper 2 - Response from the Secretary of State for Wales, COVID-19: Support for Wales - 9 April 2020

Research Brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd; Margaret Davies, Deputy Director of Strategic Budgeting; and Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury on the financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

5.1 Members considered the evidence heard during items 2 and 3.

Gwyn Howells, Chief Executive – Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales

Andrew Opie, Director Food and Sustainability - Welsh Retail Consortium

Pete Robertson, Acting Director – Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Cymru

3.1 The Committee heard evidence from the Food and Drink Federation Cymru, Hybu Cig Cymru and the Welsh Retail Consortium.

John Davies, President – National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru

Dr Nick Fenwick, Head of Policy – Farmers’ Union Wales (FUW)

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from Farmers’ Union Wales (FUW) and National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru.

5.1 Members considered the evidence heard during the scrutiny session. They agreed to write to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to request further information on some of the issues raised during the session.

Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

Gian Marco Currado, Director, Environment – Welsh Government

Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer – Welsh Government

John Howells, Director Climate Change, Energy and Planning – Welsh Government

Dean Medcraft, Director Finance & Operations – Welsh Government

Keith Smyton, Head of Food Division – Welsh Government

2.1 Members questioned the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs and her officials about Covid-19, its impact on the agriculture sector, food supply and animal welfare, and her department’s response to date to the pandemic.

Mary Wimbury, Chief Executive – Care Forum Wales

Mario Kreft, Chair – Care Forum Wales

Paper 2 – Care Forum Wales

5.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives of Care Forum Wales.

5.1 The Committee considered a paper on forthcoming Committee business in relation to COVID-19. Members agreed a work programme to gather evidence from stakeholders, prioritising the following areas for future meetings:

·         the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable children;

·         the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of children and young people;

·         the impact of COVID-19 on higher and further education.

4.1 Members considered the evidence heard during the scrutiny session. They agreed to write to the Minister and Deputy Minister to request further information on some of the issues raised during the session.

Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services  

Julie Morgan AM, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services

Albert Heaney, Deputy Director General, Health and Social Services Group

Nicola Edwards, Deputy Director, Childcare, Play and Early Years

Jean White, Chief Nursing Officer

Tracey Breheny, Deputy Director of Mental Health, Substance Misuse & Vulnerable Groups

2.1 Members questioned the Minister and Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services about Covid-19 and its impact on children and young people.

2.2 The Minister for Health and Social Services agreed to write to the Committee once the report on unexpected deaths during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wales was available and the Welsh Government had had an opportunity to consider it.

2.3 The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services agreed to:

·         provide information on how much of the support provided by the Welsh Government through the Third Sector COVID-19 Response Fund and the Third Sector Resilience Fund administered by the WCVA is being targeted to children and young people;

·         clarify what funds available for third sector services represent the continuation of existing work and what represents additional funding;

·         confirm the reporting timescales for the recently announced task and finish group with carers’ representatives which is considering the specific needs of a broad range of carers during and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

4.1 Members considered the evidence heard during the scrutiny session. They agreed to write to the Minister for Education to request further information on some of the issues raised during the session.

Kirsty Williams AM, Minister for Education 

Steve Davies, Director, Education Directorate  

Huw Morris, Group Director, Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning

2.1 Members questioned the Minister for Education and her officials about Covid-19, its impact on children, young people and students, and her department’s response to date to the pandemic.

CLA(5)-12-20 – Paper 19 – Letter from the Llywydd, 9 April 2020

CLA(5)-12-20 – Paper 20 – Letter to the Llywydd, 2 April 2020

The Committee noted the correspondence with the Llywydd.

Coronavirus Bill

The Committee noted that the UK Government had laid its Coronavirus Bill, and that a debate on a legislative consent motion for the Bill would take place in Plenary that afternoon.

Business Committee did not refer the LCM for committee scrutiny, due to the pace that the Bill is expected to move through its UK Parliament stages. Business Managers noted that a Legislative Consent Motion would be tabled for consideration in Plenary tomorrow.

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services, Welsh Government

Neil Surman, Deputy Director, Public Health, Welsh Government

Grace Martins – Senior Solicitor, Welsh Government

Sapna Lewis – Senior Solicitor, Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services and his officials.

3.2 Vaughan Gething, AM, the Minister for Health and Social Services agreed to provide a note to the Committee regarding continuing healthcare and the differences between the processes in England and Wales.

3.3. Welsh Government officials agreed to provide a note to the Committee, following publication of the Bill, to clarify if the power to close Welsh ports and airports lie with the Welsh Government or the UK Government.

3.4 Welsh Government officials agreed to provide a note to the Committee regarding the legislative procedure which relates to elements within the Bill which will require Parliamentary approval before they are enacted as opposed to Ministerial approval.

3.5 Welsh Government officials agreed to provide a note to the Committee regarding the negotiations and provisions which are being made to support the food industry and its staff.

Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer, Welsh Government

Dr Rob Orford, Chief Scientific Adviser for Health, Welsh Government

2.1 Dr Frank Atherton made a brief introductory statement.

2.2 The Committee received evidence from Dr Frank Atherton and Dr Rob Orford.